Online RN to BSN Nursing Degree Programs

If you're a registered nurse you've already accomplished an enormous task. Nursing school can be daunting, and the NCLEX exam is a bear. Getting that RN license is no small achievement, but in recent years there has been more pressure for nurses who are RNs but only hold an associate degree to push on and complete a Bachelor of Science in nursing. Busy nurses working 40 or more hours per week don't have the time to take to attend class, though. This is where online RN to BSN nursing degrees come in.

Online RN to BSN Nursing Degrees

Fortunately, the advent of the Internet has helped RNs without bachelor's degrees to earn a BSN completely online, without having to travel to a campus. Programs offered by for-profit schools such as University of Phoenix are commonly advertised, with clinical placement help for local clinical work that might be required. In some programs, your existing nursing job hours help with BSN degree requirements, making it much easier to earn your degree.

Online RN to BSN Programs

For-profit college programs aren't the only online RN to BSN option, though. Well-established, well-respected universities such as University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Wisconsin at Green Bay, University of St. Mary, Drexel University, Linfield College, University of Michigan at Flint, and many others offer distance learning RN to BSN programs.

Most of these programs require no on-campus time, or only one brief on-campus orientation session before the program starts. You can earn the BSN in as little time as one year.

RN to BSN Distance Learning

Courses are offered asynchronously, meaning you can do the coursework, participate in chat, take tests, upload assignments, and check college email on your schedule, when you want. Do you work three 12-hour shifts per week, and your schedule is irregular? No problem - you can still upgrade your education with an online RN to BSN nursing degree.

Most RN to BSN programs are priced competitively, and if you work for a large hospital system your employer may pay for part of all of the tuition. Ask your human resources department for details.

Once you complete the BSN online, consider going for the Master of Science in nursing. The demand for master's-level nurses is enormous, and earning opportunities are extremely solid. First things first, though - find an RN to BSN distance learning program and earn the BSN.